Article Text

other Versions

Download PDFPDF
Incompatible intravenous drug combinations and respective physician and nurse knowledge: a study in routine paediatric intensive care
  1. Martina P Neininger1,
  2. Patricia Buchholz1,2,
  3. Roberto Frontini1,2,
  4. Wieland Kiess3,
  5. Werner Siekmeyer3,
  6. Astrid Bertsche3,
  7. Manuaela Siekmeyer3,
  8. Thilo Bertsche1
  1. 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Drug Safety Center, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
  2. 2Pharmacy Department of the University Hospital Leipzig and Drug Safety Center, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
  3. 3Department of Women and Child Health, Hospital for Children and Adolescents and Center for Pediatric Research, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
  1. Correspondence to Professor Thilo Bertsche, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Leipzig, Eilenburger Str. 15a, 04317, Leipzig, Germany; thilo.bertsche{at}medizin.uni-leipzig.de

Abstract

Objectives To identify incompatible intravenous drug combinations in routine paediatric intensive care and evaluate physician and nurse knowledge.

Methods In a university paediatric intensive care unit, intravenous drug incompatibilities were analysed using a database and physician and nurse knowledge of incompatibilities was assessed using a questionnaire.

Results We analysed 665 prescriptions in 87 patients. Incompatible drug administration was identified in 9 (10%) of the 87 patients with a median of 3 different incompatibilities per patient (Q25/Q75: 1/3). We found 26 incompatible combinations. The most frequently involved drugs were cefotaxime, pantoprazole and vancomycin. A median of 10 of the 15 drug combinations were correctly assessed as compatible or incompatible (Q25/Q75: 8/11). Pantoprazole had a low number (20%) of correct answers.

Conclusions One in 10 patients in paediatric intensive care was affected by drug incompatibility, with knowledge deficits seen in a third of assessed combinations. This indicates quality improvement strategies should be urgently implemented by pharmacists.

  • Drug Incompatibility
  • Prescription
  • Patient Safety
  • Paediatric Intensive Care
  • Vancomycin
  • Pantoprazole
  • Cefotaxime
  • Intravenous Drug Administration

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.